MARKUS BERLI

Assistant Research Professor

EDUCATION:

Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering (Soil Physics & Mechanics), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland
Diploma in Environmental Engineering (Soil Protection), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland

ACADEMIC AFFILIATIONS:

Graduate Program of Hydrologic Sciences – University of Nevada Reno
Water Resources Management Program – University of Nevada Las Vegas

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS:

Research interests focus on modeling and measurement of soil structural dynamics affecting fluid flow and solute transport. Key issues are the connection of hydraulics and mechanics of soils at the micro-scale and upscaling physical soil behavior from pore to sample- and eventually field-scale. Further areas of interest are: New methods for in-situ characterization of soil hydraulic and mechanical properties; improved characterization of soil pore geometry using X-ray-Micro-Tomography and pore water flow employing Neutron-Tomography; improved methods to assess and predict soil deterioration due to mechanical impacts.

My vision is that micro-scale coupling of soil hydraulics and mechanics with chemical and microbial processes will provide a conceptual framework for an improved understanding of fluid flow, contaminant fate and transport in the vadose zone, to sustain soil productivity and to secure water resources of sufficient quality and quantity world-wide.

AREA OF EXPERTISE:

• Modeling and measurement of pore structure dynamics and fluid flow in porous soil materials
• Developing new methods for in-situ characterization of soil hydraulic and mechanical properties
• Field-scale assessment of soil physical properties
• Assessment and prediction of soil compaction due to dynamic mechanical impact

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Berli, M.; Carminati, A.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Or, D., 2008.

Evolution of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of aggregated soils due to compressive forces. Water Resources Research. v.44. n.W00C09.

Eggers, C.G.; Berli, M. .; Accorsi, M.L.; Or, D., 2007.

Permeability of deformable soft aggregated earth materials: From single pore to sample cross-section. Water Resources Research. v.43. pp.W08424.

Berli, M.; Or, D., 2006.

Deformation of pores in viscoplastic soil material. International Journal of Geomechanics. v.6. s.2. pp.108-118.

Eggers, C.G.; Berli, M. .; Accorsi, M.L.; Or, D., 2006.

Deformation and permeability of aggregated soft earth materials. Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth. v.111.

Berli, M. .; Eggers, C.G.; Accorsi, M.L.; Or, D., 2006.

Theoretical analysis of mechanical behavior of fluid inclusions for in-situ measurements of soil stress and deformation. Soil Science Society of America Journal. v.70. s.5. pp.1441-1452.

Berli, M. .; Accorsi, M.L.; Or, D., 2006.

Size and shape evolution of pores in viscoplastic matrix under compression. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics. v.30. s.12. pp.1259-1281.

Berli, M.; Or, D., 2005.

Book Review: "Unsaturated Soil Mechanics" by N. Lu and W.J. Likos. Vadose Zone Journal. v.4. pp.451.

Berli, M., ; Kulli, B. ; Attinger, W. ; Springman, S.M.; Flühler, H. ; Schulin, R., 2004.

Compaction of agricultural and forest subsoils by tracked heavy construction machinery. Soil & Tillage Research. v.75. n.1. pp.37-52.

Berli, M.; Kirby, J.M.; Springman, S.M. ; Schulin, R.; , 2003.

Modelling compaction of agricultural subsoils by tracked heavy construction machinery under various moisture conditions. Soil & Tillage Research. v.73. n.1-2. pp.57-66.

CONFERENCE ABSTRACTS

Berli, M; Ghezzehei, T A; Menon, M; Nico, P S; Tyler, S W; Young, M H, 2010.

Unraveling Rhizosphere Physics Using X-ray Microtomography. W2188 - Soil Physics. USDA. Las Vegas, NV.

Menon, M; Berli, M; Ghezzehei, T A; Nico, P S ; Young, M H; Tyler, S W , 2009.

Visualizing rhizosphere soil structure around living roots. Micro Soil: Integrating Biological, Physical and Chemical Techniques for the Study of Soil Micro-Habitats. University of Abertay. Dundee, Scotland.

Berli, M.; Menon, M.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Nico, P.; Tyler, S.W.; Young, M.H., 2009.

Root-induced changes in soil physical properties. W1188 - Soil Physics. USDA. Oracle, AZ.

Aravena, J E; Tyler, S W ; Berli, M , 2009.

Effects of aggregate compaction on soil hydraulic properties due to root growth. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting. San Francisco, CA.

Keller, T; Stettler, M; Arvidsson, J; Lamandé, M; Schjønning, P; Berli, M; Rydberg, T, 2009.

Stress Propagation in Arable Soil: Determination and Estimation of the Concentration Factor. 18th Conf. ISTRO. ISTRO. Izmir, Turkey.

Shafer, David S.; DuBois, Dave; Chief, Karletta; Berli, Markus; Miller, Julianne J.; Young, Michael H.; , 2009.

Fire Induced Changes in Soil Structure: Implications for Soil Hydraulic Properties and Aeolian Suspension Potential in the Great Basin, USA. American Geophysical Union.

Berli, M; Menon, M; Ghezzehei, T A; Pillai, N S; Regentova, E E; Nico, P S ; Young, M H ; Tyler, S W , 2009.

A Step Towards Unraveling Rhizosphere Physics. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco, CA.

Berli, M.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Menon, M.; Tyler, S.W.; Young, M.H.; Dexter, A.R., 2008.

Modeling rhizosphere soil mechanics and hydraulics - an overview. Computational Methods in Water Resources XVII International Conference. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. San Francisco, CA.

Berli, M.; Ghezzehei, T. ; Menon, M. ; Tyler, S.W. ; Young, M.H ; Dexter, A. , 2008.

Modeling Rhizosphere Soil Mechanics and Hydraulics - An Overview. Am. Soc. Agron. National Meetings. Houston, TX.

Berli, M.; Chen, L.; Caldwell, T.; Chief, K.; Miller, J.; Young, M.H., 2008.

Post-fire effects on watershed hydrology. USACE Arid Regions Demonstration Programs Annual Review Conference. USACE. San Diego, CA.

Berli, M. ; Carminati, A.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Or, D. , 2008.

Evolution of Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of aggregated soils during compression. European Geosciences Union, General Assembly. European Geosciences Union. Vienna, Austria.

Shafer, David S.; Miller, Julianne J.; Zitzer, Stephan F.; Berli, Markus; Rigby, Douglas; Karakouzian, Moses, 2008.

Mechanics and Rates of Subsidence on Alternative Landfill Covers in Arid Environments. 2008 Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America, October 4-9. Geological Society of America. Houston, Texas.

Menon, M.; Berli, M. ; Ghezzehei, T.A. ; Nico, P. ; Young, M.H. ; Tyler, S.W. , 2008.

Visualizing Rhizosphere Soil Structure Around Living Roots. Am. Geophysical Union National Meetings. San Francisco, CA.

Menon, M.; Berli, M. ; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Nico, P.; Young, M.H. ; Tyler, S.W.; ; , 2008.

Visualizing rhizosphere soil structure around living roots. Synchrotron Environmental Science IV. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. San Francisco, CA.

Berli, M.; Chen, L.; Young, M.H.; Scharffenberg, W., 2008.

Wildfire Effects on Watershed Hydrology - Modeling Approaches. Tools for Arid Regions Flood Damage Reduction and Restoration. USACE. San Diego, CA.

Berli, M., ; Menon, M. ; Ghezzehei, T.A. ; Tyler, S.W. ; Young, Y.H., 2008.

Root induced changes in physical properties of desert soils. NWRA Natural Recharge Symposium. NWRA. Las Vegas, NV.

Berli, M.; Chen, L.; Young, M.H.; Scharffenberg, W., 2008.

Wildfire Effects on Watershed Hydrologic Processes: An Introduction. Tools for Arid Regions Flood Damage Reduction and Restoration. USACE. Reno, NV.

Berli, M.; Caldwell, T.G.; McDonald, E.V.; Gilewitch, D.A., 2008.

Trafficability of fine-textured arid soils – a model evaluation. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting. ASA-CSSA-SSSA. Houston, TX.

Young, M.H.; Berli, M.; Knight, E. ; Chief, K.; Menon, M. ; Mon, J.; Healey, J.; Yu, Z. ; Tyler, S.W., 2008.

Examining arid soil processes in Nevada, USA, using weighing lysimeters. Lysimeters for Global Change Research: Biological Processes and the Environmental Fate of Pollutants. Helmholtz Center Munich. Munich, Germany.

Berli, M.; Carminati, A.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Or, D., 2007.

Evolution of unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of aggregated soils during compression. American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting. American Geophysical Union. San Francisco.

Berli, M.; Menon, M.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Tyler, S.W.; Young, M.H., 2007.

Multi-scale physical processes of desert soils - An example of Nevada EPSCoR research. NSF EPSCoR MEETING. NSF EPSCoR. Kona, Hawaii.

Berli, M. .; Schäffer, B.; Müller, R.; Schulin, R.; Or, D., 2007.

Effect of stress on fluid-filled inclusions in elasto-plastic soils. Annual Meeting of the European Geoscience Union. European Geoscience Union. Vienna.

Berli, M.; Caldwell, T.G.; Mcdonald, E.V., 2007.

Trafficability of fine-textured arid soils A model evaluation. Joint North America, Asia-Pacific ISTVS Conference and Japanese Society for Terramechanics. International Society for Terrain Vehicle Systems. Fairbanks AK.

Berli, M.; Carminati, A.; Ghezzehei, T.A.; Or, D., 2007.

Unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of aggregated soils under compression. International Annual Meetings. ASA-CSSA-SSSA. New Orleans.

Berli, M.; Chen, L.; Young, M.H., 2007.

Wildfire effects on watershed hydrology - an introduction for engineers. Arid Regions 11th Triennial Conference. Colorado Associtation of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers. Breckenridge, CO.

Berli, M.; Eggers, C.G.; Accorsi, M.L.; Or, D., 2006.

Linking soil micro-mechanics and hydraulic conductivity. ETH Zurich. Monte Vertia, Ascona.

Berli, M. ; Kulli, B.; Attinger, W.; Schulin, R., 2000.

Compaction of agricultural subsoils by tracked heavy construction machinery at various moisture conditions. 4th International Conference on Soil Dynamics (ICSD-IV). Agricultural Machinery Research and Design Centre, University of South Australia. Adelaide, AU.

Berli, M.; Kirby, J.M.; Springman, S.M.; Schulin, R., 2000.

Modelling compaction of agricultural subsoils by tracked heavy construction machinery under various moisture conditions. Third Workshop of the Concerted Action "Experience with the impact of subsoil compaction on soil, crop growth and environment and ways to prevent subsoil compaction". Division of Soil Management, Department of Soil Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Uppsala, Sweden.

Berli, M.; Weisskopf, P.; Schulin, R., 1999.

Subsoil compaction of agricultural soils - a review of research in Switzerland. First Workshop of the Concerted Action "Experience with the impact of subsoil compaction on soil, crop growth and environment and ways to prevent subsoil compaction". DLO-Staring Center. Wageningen, NL.